Stay on target

Despite what its fast success might suggest, the Nintendo Switch is far from perfect. The core idea of a handheld/console hybrid is killer in its convenience. But crucial features like backing up saves or a proper online service are still up in the air. However, one year after the device’s debut, Switch did just receive a nice new online feature. You can now exchange My Nintendo points for real money to buy new Switch games.

Nintendo has had a few different customer loyalty programs over the years like Club Nintendo, the 3DS Ambassador Program, the special discounts for deluxe Wii U owners, and various accounts linked to specific pieces of hardware. But My Nintendo is the company’s latest attempt to finally create one unified account for players across all Nintendo services. You can earn My Nintendo Points for buying and playing Switch and 3DS games as well as for completing certain achievements in Nintendo’s mobile games like Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes.

In the past, you could use My Nintendo points to get goodies like 3DS themes or discounts on Virtual Console titles. Nice, but not really worth paying too much attention to. I let many of my points expire because I didn’t care. However, with this latest update, I’m now hoarding my points like some kind of Hobbit dragon. Each gold coin now equals one penny on the Switch eShop. So my 272 coins are now $2.72, meaning I have some work to do to really take advantage of this deal. Gotta spend money to make money.

While this program is nice in theory, some folks are already balking at the relative stinginess of the exchange rate. When buying retail Switch games, you get 5 percent back in gold points. So you’d have to buy about 100 physical $60 Switch games to get one free, and while the Switch’s library is growing, we’re pretty sure there aren’t 100 physical Switch games worth buying yet. There probably aren’t even 100 physical Switch games period. So right now you’re better off using your coins to score awesome, cheaper, Switch indie games.

Hopefully this program is just a prelude to more extravagant Nintendo Switch online features to come. How long before My Nintendo points become straight-up cryptocurrency?